Medtronic announced a $700M investment in Hong Kong-based Cornerstone Robotics, gaining rights to distribute the Sentire surgical robot in approved markets outside the US. Medtronic will sell Sentire alongside its own Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system, creating what the company calls the industry's first dual-platform surgical robotics portfolio.
Sentire is a multi-port system with dual-console capability and an immersive surgeon interface. It received CE Mark in May 2026 for general, gynecologic, thoracic, and urologic procedures. The system has completed multi-specialty clinical trials and holds regulatory approval in China, the EU, and Singapore. Cornerstone developed the entire platform in-house.
The investment reflects Medtronic's strategy to capture share in the $8B+ robotic surgery market by offering hospitals and surgeons more configuration options. Hugo has been deployed in over 35 countries and is on track to exceed 50,000 procedures this fiscal year — growing at more than double the market rate. The dual-platform approach lets Medtronic compete against Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci monopoly with tailored solutions for different regional and clinical contexts.
The deal also signals competitive pressure in Asia, where Cornerstone has established regulatory footholds ahead of Western competitors. Medtronic's willingness to distribute a partner system rather than acquire outright suggests confidence in Hugo's differentiation and a bet that multi-vendor portfolios will become standard in surgical robotics.
